Cairo

Cairo is a colourful, hectic and sprawling North African city with a myriad of intricate bazaars, spice markets and mosques, set in the desert close to the site of the ancient pyramids at Giza. It is also the home of the wonderful Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, where many of the treasures of the ancient tombs can be seen today, incuding the Gold Mask of Tutankhamun, comprising 11kg of solid gold.

While Cairo undeniably provides a wealth of interest to those with the time and patience to discover it, it is chaotic and crowded and noisy, and feels like a violent assault on the senses. The traffic is particularly unfathomable - 5 chaotic lanes of traffic, peppered with donkeys, tuk tuks and trucks piled high with tomatoes or chickens, career round unmarked roads in a seemingly random and hazardous manner.

Cairo: the pyramids at Giza

For those on a tight time frame, we recommend staying in Giza, near the ancient pyramids.
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Cairo: the pyramids at Giza

For those on a tight time frame, we recommend staying in Giza, near the ancient pyramids. Giza is a quieter location than the centre, very much on the outskirts of the city and on the fringe of the wide desert beyond. We suggest spending the night here, to wake to the sight of the pyramids and to allow for a relaxed early start while the morning is cooler, and to avoid any crowds and queues that may mar your experience of the ancient tombs.

A few hours is sufficient to experience the best of the tombs, temples and ancient ships here; it is perfectly possible to spend half a day here then head on out to spend the night in Aswan or Luxor.
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Cairo: The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, otherwise known as the Cairo Museum, is highly recommended for its astonishing collection of breathtaking ancient treasures. There is something here to capture every imagination, and this is really a must-do while you are in Cairo. If you have time, then explore the markets, especially Khan el Khalili, or enjoy a glass of mint tea in the open air cafés that surround it.